Defense
In today’s game of fast, up-tempo offense it is important that your defense is equally fast, aggressive, and agile. Calloway Football’s defensive philosophy is built on the following core principles:
We have been very successful running a hybrid 3-3-5 or 3-5-3 odd stack defense. Joe Lee Dunn & Charlie Strong are two of the coaches who really built the initial blueprint for this scheme. It’s now a staple for many programs at the collegiate and high school level.
When we decided to bring this scheme to the youth level, I heard from some coaches who said that this scheme would never work at the youth level. Boy were they wrong. We have dominated opponents just as completely on the defensive side of the ball as we do on offense. Over the past 3 seasons at the 7th/8th-grade level, our teams have allowed fewer than 6 points per game.
Defensive Line
There are two principles of line play in the odd stack:
The defensive line is moving on every snap. Add in the linebackers with all the different movements and their different angles of attack, and it is very tough for an offensive lineman to block this scheme. It’s a more aggressive style of defense and it is a rule-breaking defense for the offensive line. The offensive line can’t fire off the ball and drive the defense out because they don’t know where they are coming from or where they are going.
Stunts
A essential key to this defense is stunting, and it’s a technique that must be coached to work properly. The key is coming from depth at full speed while staying under control and not overrunning the ball by penetrating the line of scrimmage (LOS) with too much depth. Coaches often allow players to stunt and race past the ball. You never want that to happen. You want, above all, to control the LOS. It’s far more effective to make plays at the LOS and not create running lanes that lead to big plays.
How many times have you said or heard another coach say, “Man we had the ball carrier in the backfield and didn’t make the tackle.” Then the coach says “I had my defensive player in the perfect spot but he couldn’t make the play.” It’s likely that the player wasn’t coached properly on how to stay under control, use proper technique, and play at the line of scrimmage. We’ll help you solve that problem.
Base Defense
Our base defense is playing with a zero technique and two five techniques on the line of scrimmage, but they are readers of blocks. The noseguard’s job is to attack and neutralize the center on every snap. The ends’ anchor point is the outside “V” of the neck of the offensive tackles, and they must learn how to react to three blocks: the down, the base, and the reach.
Once our front is set, we typically use Man Free coverage in the secondary.
This defense works. In the past few seasons, our defense has literally had more interceptions than our opponents have had completed passes against us.
In today’s game of fast, up-tempo offense it is important that your defense is equally fast, aggressive, and agile. Calloway Football’s defensive philosophy is built on the following core principles:
- Play Fast
- Attack
- Be Multiple
- Be Different
- Disguise
We have been very successful running a hybrid 3-3-5 or 3-5-3 odd stack defense. Joe Lee Dunn & Charlie Strong are two of the coaches who really built the initial blueprint for this scheme. It’s now a staple for many programs at the collegiate and high school level.
When we decided to bring this scheme to the youth level, I heard from some coaches who said that this scheme would never work at the youth level. Boy were they wrong. We have dominated opponents just as completely on the defensive side of the ball as we do on offense. Over the past 3 seasons at the 7th/8th-grade level, our teams have allowed fewer than 6 points per game.
Defensive Line
There are two principles of line play in the odd stack:
- First is an attacking and stunting front, with movement on nearly every snap. That is usually backed up by man-free coverage in the secondary.
- Second is using the odd stack as a base front so that the linemen can read and react while some type of zone coverage (usually cover three) is employed by the players behind them. You’ll find both schemes in the defensive playbook.
- Noseguard: The “true defensive lineman” of the group. He’ll see plenty of double teams inside with the center and guards, and he needs the strength to fend them off. He’ll be asked to play both A gaps, so he needs to be a bigger player with a stockier build who can eat up space.
- Defensive End (Tight End Side): He is the stronger of the two ends, mainly because teams have a tendency of running to the tight end side. He should be strong enough to handle double teams from the tight end in the power run game. Most of these type ends at the college level are converted to LBs, because speed is a necessity. They should be able to get off of the ball quickly and have the ability to redirect on the snap.
- Defensive End (Open Side): He is the best pass-rushing defensive lineman. Playing away from the tight end, he’ll see a lot of option schemes and bootlegs. This is generally the most athletic d-lineman. He must be able to play well in space, especially if teams like to put their split end to the field side of the formation.
The defensive line is moving on every snap. Add in the linebackers with all the different movements and their different angles of attack, and it is very tough for an offensive lineman to block this scheme. It’s a more aggressive style of defense and it is a rule-breaking defense for the offensive line. The offensive line can’t fire off the ball and drive the defense out because they don’t know where they are coming from or where they are going.
Stunts
A essential key to this defense is stunting, and it’s a technique that must be coached to work properly. The key is coming from depth at full speed while staying under control and not overrunning the ball by penetrating the line of scrimmage (LOS) with too much depth. Coaches often allow players to stunt and race past the ball. You never want that to happen. You want, above all, to control the LOS. It’s far more effective to make plays at the LOS and not create running lanes that lead to big plays.
How many times have you said or heard another coach say, “Man we had the ball carrier in the backfield and didn’t make the tackle.” Then the coach says “I had my defensive player in the perfect spot but he couldn’t make the play.” It’s likely that the player wasn’t coached properly on how to stay under control, use proper technique, and play at the line of scrimmage. We’ll help you solve that problem.
Base Defense
Our base defense is playing with a zero technique and two five techniques on the line of scrimmage, but they are readers of blocks. The noseguard’s job is to attack and neutralize the center on every snap. The ends’ anchor point is the outside “V” of the neck of the offensive tackles, and they must learn how to react to three blocks: the down, the base, and the reach.
Once our front is set, we typically use Man Free coverage in the secondary.
This defense works. In the past few seasons, our defense has literally had more interceptions than our opponents have had completed passes against us.